Sealing machine



Aug. M, 1925. 11,548,847

H. H. METCALF A SEALING MACHINE Fil ed Jan. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 111V I ENTOR Howard h. Metca/f ATTORNEYS Aug. M, 1925. I 1,548,471 H. H.METCALF SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26. 1925 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 0/3// NGNQ 11V V5 N T 0R Haward H .Met calf A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

UNITED STATES- 1,548,847 PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. METCALF, 0F BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BATTLE CREEKBREAD WRAPPING MACHINE CO'., 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

SEALING MACHINE.

Application filed January 26, 1925. Serial No. 4,777.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HOWARD I-I. ME'roALF, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SealingMachines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sealing machines.

My improved scaling machine is especially designed by me for sealingwaxed paper around irregular objects such as loaves of bread, althoughdesirable for use in sealing waxed paper wrappings of other articles orpackages.

The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved sealing machine which is well adapted forthe sealing of the waxed wrapping of irregularly shaped loaves of breadsuch as rye bread, French rolls and the like.-

Second, to provide an improved sealing machine for articles of thisclass which is very efficient.

Third, to provide an improved sealing machine which may be readilyadjusted to articles of various sizes.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction andoperation of my invention will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims. A structure embodying thefeatures of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I .is a fragmentary plan View of a sealing machine embodying thefeatures of my invention.

Fig. II is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. III is a detail View partially in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. I.

Fig. IV isa detail view partially in vertical longitudinal section on aline corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. I.

In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction ofthe little arrows at the ends of the section lines'and similar numeralsof reference indicate similar parts in all of the views.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a frame comprising a pair oflongitudinal base members 1, side members 2 and end cross members 3.Toward the front of the machine I mount a sealing plate 4. The

plate illustrated is electrically heated, the heating unit beingindicated at 5 in Fig. IV.

The heating plate is provided with laterally projecting brackets 6 whichform supports for the inner ends of the fixed intermediate way members 7and 8, the outer ends of these members being supported by the framecross members 3.

The way further comprises adjustable front way members 9 and adjustablerear 7 way members 10, there being in the structure illustratedremovable way members 11 and 12 'carried'by the rods 13 on theadjustable way members. The adjustable.

way members 10 are supported at their .7

front ends on the carriages 14 which are supported by the frontslide-rods 15 and. the adjusting and supporting rods 16 arranged at therear of the heating plate. This adjusting rod 16 has right and left handthreads engaging the carriages so that they are simultaneously adjustedto and from each other. The rear ends of the rear adjustable way members10 are carried by slides 17 on the rear slide rods 18. With thisarrangement the width of the way can be readily adjusted.

The way side members 19 are carried by the brackets 20 on the front andrear adjustable way members, these side members having pins 21 slidablethrough the bracket and yieldingly supported by the coiled springs 22.The pressure bars 23 are supported above the 'way for yielding androcking movement so that they readily adjust themselves to irregularlyshaped loaves and loaves of varying sizes. These pressure bars 23'arecarried by hanger rods 24 reciprocatingly mounted in the supportingbrackets 25, the pivots 26 which connect the bars to the rods beingdisposed longitudinally of the bars, thus allowing for lateraladjustment of the bars to the articles wrapped and also for the verticalmovement ofthe bars to accommodate articles of varying height;

of the springs. The stop collars 30 on the upper ends of the rods engagethe brackets to limit the downward movement of the pressure rods.

The brackets 25 are adjustably mounted on the cross rods 31 carried bythe uprights 32 disposed on the adjustable way members 10 at the outsideof the way side members 16. To permit adjustment of the way members therods are adjustably secured to the uprights 32 by means of thumb screws33. The brackets 25 are adjustably secured to the rods 31 by means ofthumb screws 34. I thus provide for rapid adjustment to meet therequirements of the particular style of loaf being wrapped.

Loaves of rye bread, French rolls and the like are not of a shape whichmakes it practical for automatic or machine wrapping, at least, for thesmall producer. My present machine is designed for the rapid andeifective sealing of loaves of this character which have been wrapped byhand, the wrapper being arranged so that the fold is at the bottom ofthe loaf, the loaf is placed upon the way and pushed under the pressurebars which project over the heating plate, the loaf being pushed on tothe way at the rear of the heating plate. The wax has suflicient time toset as the loaf is carried on through the machine by succeeding loavesfed into the machine.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as itis believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art toembody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sealing machine, the combination with a frame, a bottom heatingplate, transversely disposed front and rear slide rods, a carriagesupporting and adjusting rod disposed at the rear of said heating plateand provided with right and left hand threads, carriages mounted on saidadjusting rod and slidable on said front slide rod, front and rear waymembers mounted on said carriages, the rear way members being providedwith slides on said rear slide rod, way side members yieldingly mountedon said way members, longitudinally disposed top pressure bars,supporting means therefor comprising uprights mounted on said rear waymembers at the outside of said side members, cross rods carried by saiduprights, brackets adjustably mounted on said cross rods, verticallydisposed hanger rods reciprocatingly mounted on said brackets and towhich said pressure bars are secured by pivots disposed longitudinallyof the meme? pressure bars, pressure springs arranged on said hangerrods with their upper ends in engagement with said brackets, thrustcollars for said springs adjustable on said hanger rods, and adjustablestop collars mounted on said hanger rods above said brackets.

2. In a sealing machine, the combination with a frameQa bottom heatingplate, transversely disposed front and rear slide rods, a carriagesupporting and adjusting rod disposed at the rear of said heating plateand provided with right and left hand threads, carriages mounted on saidadjusting rod and slidable on said front slide rod, front and rear waymembers mounted on said carriages, the rear way members being providedwith slides on said rear slide rod, way side members yieldingly mountedon said way members, longitudinally disposed top pressure bars,supporting means there for comprising uprights mounted on said rear waymembers at the outside of said side members, cross rods carried by saiduprights, brackets adjustably mounted on said cross rods, verticallydisposed hanger rods reciprocatingly mounted on said brackets and towhich said pressure bars are secured by pivots disposed longitudinallyof the pressure bars, and pressure springs arranged on said hanger rods.

3. In a sealing machine, the combination with a frame, a bottom heatingplate, transversely disposed front and rear slide rods, a carriagesupporting and adjusting rod dis posed at the rear ofsaid heating plateand provided with right and left hand threads, carriages mounted on saidadjusting rod and slidable on said front slide rod, front and rear waymembers mounted on said carriages, the rear way members being providedwith slides on said rear slide rod, way side membersyieldingly mountedon said way members, longitudinally disposed top pressure bars,supporting means therefor comprising brackets supported for lateraladjustment above said ways, vertically disposed hanger rodsreciprocatingly mounted on said brackets and to which said pressure barsare secured by pivots disposed longitudinally of the pressure bars,pressure springs arranged on said hanger rods with their upper ends inengagement with said brackets, thrust collars for said springsadjustable on said hanger rods, and adjustable stop collars mounted onsaid hanger rods above said brackets.

4. In a sealing machine, the combination with a frame, a bottom heatingplate, transversely disposed front and rear slide rods, a carriagesupporting and adjusting rod disposed at the rear of said heating plateand provided with right and left hand threads, carriages mounted on saidadjusting rod and slidable on said frontslide rod, front and rear waymembers mounted on said carmesses? vided with slides on said rear sliderod, way

side members yieldingly mounted on said Way members, longitudinallydisposed top pressure bars, supporting means therefor comprisingbrackets supported for lateral adjustment above said Ways, verticallydisposed hanger rods reciprocatingly mounted on said brackets and to.which said pressure bars are secured by pivots disposed longitudinallyof the pressure bars, and pressure springs arranged on said hanger rods.

5. In a sealing machine, the combination of a bottom heating plate, waysoperatively associated therewith, top pressure bars dis posedlongitudinally above said ways, supporting means thereforcomprisinguprights mounted on said way members at the outside of said sidemembers, cross rods carried by said uprights, brackets adjustablymounted on said cross rods, vertically disposed hanger rodsreciprocatingly mounted on' said brackets and to which said pressurebars are secured by pivots disposed longi-' tudinally' of the pressurebars, pressure springs arranged on said hanger rods with their upperends'in en agement with said brackets, thrust collars or said springsadjustable on said hanger rods, and adjustable stop collars mounted onsaid hanger-rods above said brackets. v 6. In a sealing machine, thecombination of a bottom heating plate, ways operatively associatedtherewith, top pressure bars disposed longitudinally above said ways,supporting means therefor com rising uprights mounted on said waymembers at the outside of said side members, cross rods carried by saiduprights, brackets adjustably mounted on said cross rods, verticallydisposed hanger rods reciprocatingly mounted on said brackets and towhich said pressure bars are secured by pivots disposed longitudinallyof the pressure bars, and pressure springs arranged on said hanger rods.

7. In a sealing machine, the combination of abottom heating plate, waysoperatively associated therewith, top pressure bars disposedlongitudinally above said ways, sup-,

porting brackets therefor mounted for lateral adjustment above saidways, reciprocating hanger rods carried by said" brackets,

- pressure springs for said pressure bars, ad-

justable means for limiting the downward movement of said pressure bars,and means for adjusting the pressure of said springs.

8.. In a sealing machine, the combination with a frame, a bottom'heatingplate, laterally adjustable way members, longitudinally disposed toppressure bars, supporting means therefor comprising brackets supportedfor lateral adjustment above said ways, vertically disposed hanger rodsrecipsaid bars are pivotally mounted for lateral rocking movement, andpressure springs for said pressure bars.

10. In a sealing machine, the combination of a way, a heatingplateoperatively associated therewith, top pressure bars, and sup ports forsaid pressure bars mounted for a justment laterally of said way, saidpressure bars being mounted for lateral rocking and for yieldingvertical movement on said supports. 7 I

11. In a sealing machine, the combination with a frame, a bottom heatingplate, laterally adjustable way members, a longitudinally disposed toppressure bar, supporting means therefor comprising a bracket supportedfor lateral adjustment above said way, and vertically disposed hangerrods reciprocatingly mounted on said brackets and to which said pressurebar is pivotally secured. 12. In a sealing machine, the combination of away, a heating plate operatively asso* ciated with said way, a toppressure bar disposed longitudinally above said way,

vertically reciprocating, hanger rods on.

which said .bar is pivotally mounted for 1 rocking movement transverselyof the way, and a pressure spring for said pressure bar.

13. In a sealingmachine, the combination of a way, a heating plateoperatively associated therewith, a top'pressure bar, and a support forsaid pressure bar mounted for adjustment laterally of said way,'s aidpressure bars being mounted for rocking movement transversely of the wayand for yielding vertical movement on said support.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y HOWARD METCALF.

